Face to Face with two North East Broadcasting Legends
Listeners to BBC Radio 4 will be familiar with the iconic show Desert Island Discs, which asks well- known personalities to choose the songs which have been the soundtrack to their lives.
In this twist on the broadcast classic, we have asked two very special guests along.
We’re delighted to announce that North East broadcasting legend Paddy MacDee who talked his way to the top of the radio tree many years ago and is currently riding on the crest of an airwave with his popular late night show on BBC Radio Newcastle from 10pm – 1am will be under the spotlight as he is interviewed about the television programmes that have shaped his life.
Paddy doesn’t just have a face for radio, as he is also well known from his many years reading the news on TV. In 2008 he celebrates 35 years behind the mike, and he continues to be as popular as ever on-air.
Paddy said today:
"I'm flattered to be asked to be the subject of Desert Island TV. I have been very lucky to have spent almost my entire working life in the media. I have fond memories of the first time our family got a TV, it was in 1957 when I was seven and we could only get the BBC in black and white!"
Who better to interview Paddy than someone who for the last two years has been the main male anchor on North East Tonight and grills guests on a daily basis!
Jonathan Morrell trained as a journalist with the BBC, and after several years with the corporation working in their local radio newsrooms in the North East, Jonathan joined Tyne Tees News in 1996.
As well working in the newsroom he also found himself fronting election specials and factual series until 2001, when he moved to Yorkshire TV in Leeds to work on one of Granada’s digital TV channels before going freelance which saw him reporting for ITN and presenting Sky News.
Jonathan’s current schedule is hectic by anyone’s standards as he now presents the mid-day programme on Century FM from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. then drives across to ITV Tyne Tees’ Headquarters at the Watermark in Gateshead to work on the evening news programme which goes out from 6.00 – 6.30 p.m.
Come along and listen to a fascinating evening with two of the North East’s best-loved broadcasters. Paddy’s Desert Island TV kicks off at 6.00pm with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions after. Tickets are from £7 and there’s a free glass of wine with every ticket!